Controlling-valve for steering-engines.



R. RICHARDSON. GONTROLLING VALVE FOR STEERING ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. 1903- PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

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N0. 761,253 PATBNTBD MAY 31, 1904.

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CONTROLLING VALVE FOR STE-BRING ENGINES.- urnmnxon FILED JAN.15, 1903.

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CONTROLLING VALVE FOR STEERING ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1903.

No. 761,253. Y PATENTED MAY31, 1904.

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PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

I vR. RICHARDSON. CONTROLLING VALVE FOR STEERING ENGINES;

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.15, 1903.

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.plications for patents have been made in Great to the engines ceasing to operate, and thereto supply insuflicient steam, and consequently but it is also apt to remain partially open.

exhaust being effected by the action of the con UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT RICHARDSON, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN HASTIE AND COMPANY, LIMITED, GREENOCK, SCOTLAND.

CONTROLLING-VALVE F OR STEERING-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Paten N0. 761,253, dated. May 31, 1904 Application filedJanuary 15, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT RICHARDSON, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 16 Jamieson street, Govanhill, Glasgow, Scotland,have invented certain new and useful Controlling- Valves for Steering-Engines, (for which ap- Britain, No. 16,525, dated July 24, 1902, and in Germany, dated December 20, 1902,) of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to steam steering-engines in which the direction and extent of mo-. tion are regulated by a controlling-valve which is automatically brought back after each action into its middle or neutral position The controlling-valve in such engines is usually for ease in handling a piston-valve which besides being difiicult to keep steam-tight cannot efiectually close the passages to the distributing-valves of the steering-engines owing fore ceasing to actuate the controlling-valve when these passages are so nearly closed as large leakage of steam occurs. For the purpose of overcoming this diificultyastop'walve operated by the controlling-valve has been introduced to cut ofi the steam-supply when the controlling-valve is in the neutral position;

. The object of this invention is to insure that supply to the controlling-valve of steam steering-engines shall be open and kept open when the controlling-valve is moved in either direction, but shall be effectually closed to prevent leakage of steam when the neutral position of the controlling-valve is reached. For that purpose the cut-off valve is so constructed and arranged that it is'opened by the steampressure on exhausting the steam which acts on its opposite face to normally close it, such trolling-valve on an exhaust valve or valves. The invention is illustrated by way ot exthe valve (0. connected by passages cl to a small valve-casing 6 at each end of the controlling-valve casing f, these end casings e communicating Serial a. 139,143. oh nodel.)

which Figure 1, is a longitudinal section of the controlling-valve casing of a steering-engine, showing a modification in which a single vertically-moving cut-off valve is employed and operated by exhaust-valves situated at each end of the controlling-valve; and Fig. 2 is a like view showing a modification in which a cut-ofl valve moving horizontally is placed at either end of the controlling-valve casing. Fig. 3 shows in vertical section a modified construction of the cut-0H valveandrelative parts. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a steam steering-engine, showing the application thereto of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the example represented at Fig. 1 the cutting-off valve (0 is formed on or attached to a piston a, fitted in a small cylindrical casing b, the inner end of which forms the seat 0 for The outer end of the cylinder is ample in the accompanying drawings, in

each through a valve-orifice g with the corresponding end of the controlling-valve casing. In these valve-orifices are seated small valves h, which are normally closed by springs c', but one or other of which is pressed open by the controlling-valve j when it is moved slightly from the central position. The opening of either of these small valves it allows the steam which has leaked past the piston a on the cut ting-ofi valve (0 to escape by way of the pas sage d from the outer end of the cylinder 6 into and through the exhaust-chamber k of the controlling-valve, (which in this instance is at either end of the valve j,)'or tootherwise exhaust, whereupon the pressure of the steam which is admitted at b, acting on the inner side of the piston a, forces it outward and raises the cutting-off valve a from its seat,

whereupon steam is admitted to and through the controlling-valve j to the ports l, leading to the steering-engine. Immediately on the down the valve a, which cuts off steam to the.

controlling-valve, this action being assisted by a spring or by gravity when, as is usual, the valve closes downward.

The movements of the controlling-valve to right and left is effected in the usual way, as by the lever-arm m on the shaft 01..

In the modification represented at Fig. 2 a cut-off valve a is fitted at each end of the controlling-valve casing f in a valve-orifice a, through which the boiler-steam from the inlet .7) is admitted to the ends of the controllingvalve pistons ,7 instead of, as is usual, to the space between them, which latter in the present instance is connected to the exhaust-port 0. Each cut-off valve (0 is formed with a piston to, fitting in a short cylinder 6 at the end of the valve-casing f, the cylinder [2 being formed with a dividing-web 6 in which is fitted a small auxiliary valve it, closed by a spring 71, and whose stem It passes through the cut-off valve (0 and pro ects into the controlling-valve casing. On the movement of the controlling-valve j in either direction from its neutral position a tap j on its end strikes the stem it of the auxiliary valve in at that end and opening it allows the steam at the back of the cut-off valve (0 to escape .to exhaust by the passage whereupon the valve a opens and steam is admitted to the controlling-valve casing f, whose ends communicate by means of a passage f. On the controlling-valve returning to the neutral potion the auxiliary valve [L first closes and thest am-pressure passing to the back of the cutoff valve (4 closes it also, a spring 12 being used to facilitate the closing operation.

In the modification represented at Figs. 3 and 4 the cut-off valve (0 is normally held on its seat apart from the steam-pressure acting on it by means of a spring Z and link or rod m, extending through an orifice in the valve and. engaged by a nut m, and through this rod is carried a tappet or pin a, which is acted on by a cam 0 on the controlling-valve stem 0 to raise the auxiliary valve 72 from its seat against the power of a spring lb and permit of the exhaust of steam from the back of the valve a when the controlling-valve spindleo is turned. .The exhaust of the steam at the back of the valve (6 permits of the steam admitted at b acting on the inner side of the valve (0 and lifting it from itsseat to admit steam to the controlling-valve through the casing p, and on the controlling-valve spindle 0 returning to its neutral or mid-position the tappet 22 drops and the auxiliary valve h is closed by the spring IL, whereupon the steam leaking past the valve (0 and acting on the greater area of its upper side closes it, this action being aided by the spring Z.

In Fig. 4 a steering-engine is shown as fitted with the controlling-valve described with reference to' Fig. 3. The engine itself is of an ordinary type having a crank-shaft Q, on which is a worm Q, meshing with a wormwheel R on a shaft R, which carries the usual chain-barrel R from'which the ships rudder is actuated. The worm Q also meshes with a worm-wheel S, fast on a sleeve S, on which is formed the bevel s, meshing with the usual differential gear 0 O and through which sleeve the handing-shaft 0 passes.

In the operation of the engine the handingwheel O is turned by the steersman to turn the shaft O, or said shaft may be turned by means of bevel-gear O fromthe ships bridge. The bevel-O, fast on the shaft O, imparts a turning movement to the bevel O which, owing to itsengagement with the then stationary bevel s, is swung around the shaft O and carries with it the segment O with which it is integral, and thereby the segment O and with it the controlling-valve spindle O is turned to open the steam-ports to the steering-engine. On the operation of the engine the worm Q, acting on the worm-wheel S and bevel .9, brings back the differential bevels and segments thereby operated and returns the controlling-valve spindle O to the initial position of rest. On the first movement of the controlling-valve spindle O the cam O on its end acting on the exhaust-valve it allows to escape to exhaust the steam acting to close the stop-valve a, and said valve would then rise to admit boiler-steam to' the controllingvalve casing. On the return movement of the control-valve spindle the cam O allows the exhaust-valve h to close, and then the steampressure on both sides of the valve a being equalized the valve a closes on its seat by gravitation, the steam-pressure on its upper side thereafter maintaining it tightly closed. The piston a, to which the stop-valve a is attached, is a loose fit in its casing, that boilersteam leaks past the piston and no passages are. made in the latter.

Having now described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a controlling-valve for steering-engines, the combination of a cut-off valve adapted to cut off, the steam from the boiler to the casing of the controlling-valve, means whereby said cut-off valve is opened when the controlling-valve is moved from its neutral position by the exhaust of steam which normally holds said cut-off valve in closed position, substantially as described.

2. In a controlling-valve for steering-em gines the combination With a cutting-01f or In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my stop valve provided to close ofi the boilerhand in presence of two Witnesses. steamof a piston thereon Working in a cylinder having connections to an exhaust valve or 5 valves operated as described by the movement Witnesses:

of the controlling-valve from the neutral po- WALLACE CRANsToN FAIRWEATHER, sition. J NO. ARMSTRONG, J r.

I ROBERT RICHARDSON. 

